The French National Assembly votes 494 to 36 (with 31 abstentions) to ban hijabs and all other conspicuous religious symbols being worn by students in state schools. The ban also applies to large Christian crosses, Sikh turbans, and Jewish skullcaps; however, it is generally agreed that Muslim headscarves and veils are the primary target.

According to a survey done by Le Parisien, this law is supported by 69% of the French public, including 42% of Muslims and 49% of Muslim women.

The government accepts that this law may infringe on the choices of those girls who freely choose to wear a hijab, but argues that this is outweighed by the state's interest in providing a safe space where girls who don't wish to wear it don't have to. It is true that many experience implicit and explicit pressure from families and communities to wear a hijab and protecting minors from religious coercion in public institutions is considered an important, fundamental value for the French state.